Northeastern University Marine Science Center

Northeastern University is expanding the Marine Science Center in Nahant, Massachusetts to house their Coastal Sustainability Institute. The new 55,000 GSF building will support 29,150 NSF of academic research and teaching program in state-of-the-art facilities with a 62% reduction in energy usage over a typical research building.

The proposed design responds to the unique features of its remarkable coastal setting, primarily by obscuring the building from view by visitors to the area. Sited on top of and nestled alongside the existing Murphy Bunker, the new building will adaptively reuse the existing concrete structure as its foundation. The project will integrate with research facilities currently located in the bunker and renovate underutilized spaces within that structure for new programs. Over 30% of the new building will be located below-grade alongside the eastern sloped walls of the bunker, mostly housing mechanical systems to avoid visible equipment on the rooftop. The new construction will sit well outside the FEMA flood area with all critical building components and programs located above the 500-year flood plain.